Cell phones, calling cards, how do u keep in touch ?

Jxlot · Dec 12th, 2002, 04:29

Hello,
I will soon be travelling to India for a 3 month stay. My question concerns keeping in touch with family back here in the U.S. I have heard that it is very expensive to call from India to the U.S. and vice versa. Also, I was thinking of buying a cell phone to bring abroad. Does anyone have any ideas on how to keep the calls somewhat inexpensive on a cell phone ? Using cell phone plans, I have found the lowest price seems to be 42 cents a minute. If I use a cell phone calling card, like I have seen somewhere on this site, the price is as low as 25 cents a minute. Is it worthwhile to get a cell phone or should I just use the regular phones in India either at the hotels or on pay phones ? Thanks for the help.

Josh

indiamike · Dec 12th, 2002, 06:18

Though this doesn't answer your question, out of curiosity where in the US have you found a cell phone provider that has cell phones that will work in India?

Heck mine doesn't even work out of the tri-state area (since you from NY you know what I mean).

Mike

jgbrowning · Dec 12th, 2002, 07:56

i'd have to go with e-mail. its cheap, you can do it a lot, and when you get back you have a small little recording of what you did. pretty cool..

joe b.

Dec 12th, 2002, 09:41

bring your phone here and get a local sim card..better . yes calling via landline is cheaper or many internet cafes now offer internet phone.

cheapest - use yahoo voice chat

indiaguide · Dec 12th, 2002, 13:01

It's better to use land line than Cellphone.Lot of shops are here in India You may make international Call.You eassly identified this shops because all of them have sign board .(ISD,STD, Local call).

You may find lot of Internet cafe in big city.

Architect · Dec 12th, 2002, 14:29

If you use cell phone - you are charged the intrenational call rate and in addition to this the cellular air time charge.

So naturally using landline from Hotels or any shop will be cheaper. The only drawback being you cannot be reached by some one. If thats not the criteria then going for cellular phone is not a very good idea.

Incase you want to get a cell phone get the one which is GSM compatible. The phones normally available in US are different. So make sure of this criteria.

You will find shops and hotels offering the International calling facility even in small towns and villages. So making calls should not be a problem.

Jxlot · Dec 16th, 2002, 01:15

indiamike,
I have found out that T-Mobile has phones, service in India though each minute is like $2.50 . What is the best way to be reached in India by family back home ? Maybe calling cards would be better.....I think there are ones I can use to call the U.S. from India and vice versa. Anyone have any particular favorites or ones that are not worth buying ?

Jxlot · Dec 16th, 2002, 01:34

I found a website, noblecom.com which offers calling cards. They have one for calling from India to the U.S. for 98 cents a minute. Is that a decent price ? Also, they have calling cards to call a cell phone from the U.S. to India for cheap prices. Has anyone used their calling cards before? Looks good but what the f-ck do I know....

Dec 12th, 2002, 04:29	#1
Jxlot Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: NY Posts: 42	Cell phones, calling cards, how do u keep in touch ? Hello, I will soon be travelling to India for a 3 month stay. My question concerns keeping in touch with family back here in the U.S. I have heard that it is very expensive to call from India to the U.S. and vice versa. Also, I was thinking of buying a cell phone to bring abroad. Does anyone have any ideas on how to keep the calls somewhat inexpensive on a cell phone ? Using cell phone plans, I have found the lowest price seems to be 42 cents a minute. If I use a cell phone calling card, like I have seen somewhere on this site, the price is as low as 25 cents a minute. Is it worthwhile to get a cell phone or should I just use the regular phones in India either at the hotels or on pay phones ? Thanks for the help. Josh

Dec 16th, 2002, 01:15	#7
Jxlot Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: NY Posts: 42	indiamike, I have found out that T-Mobile has phones, service in India though each minute is like $2.50 . What is the best way to be reached in India by family back home ? Maybe calling cards would be better.....I think there are ones I can use to call the U.S. from India and vice versa. Anyone have any particular favorites or ones that are not worth buying ? __________________ "Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one" - Albert Einstein

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Dec 12th, 2002, 06:18	#2
indiamike Retired Admin Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: New Joisey for now Posts: 1,759	Though this doesn't answer your question, out of curiosity where in the US have you found a cell phone provider that has cell phones that will work in India? Heck mine doesn't even work out of the tri-state area (since you from NY you know what I mean). Mike

Dec 12th, 2002, 07:56	#3
jgbrowning Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Dallas, TX USA Posts: 81	i'd have to go with e-mail. its cheap, you can do it a lot, and when you get back you have a small little recording of what you did. pretty cool.. joe b.

Dec 12th, 2002, 09:41	#4
archits Posts: n/a	bring your phone here and get a local sim card..better . yes calling via landline is cheaper or many internet cafes now offer internet phone. cheapest - use yahoo voice chat

Dec 12th, 2002, 13:01	#5
indiaguide Account Closed Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Calcutta(Kolkata) Posts: 330	It's better to use land line than Cellphone.Lot of shops are here in India You may make international Call.You eassly identified this shops because all of them have sign board .(ISD,STD, Local call). You may find lot of Internet cafe in big city.

Dec 12th, 2002, 14:29	#6
Architect Account Closed Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Mumbai Posts: 38	If you use cell phone - you are charged the intrenational call rate and in addition to this the cellular air time charge. So naturally using landline from Hotels or any shop will be cheaper. The only drawback being you cannot be reached by some one. If thats not the criteria then going for cellular phone is not a very good idea. Incase you want to get a cell phone get the one which is GSM compatible. The phones normally available in US are different. So make sure of this criteria. You will find shops and hotels offering the International calling facility even in small towns and villages. So making calls should not be a problem.

Dec 16th, 2002, 01:34	#8
Jxlot Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: NY Posts: 42	I found a website, noblecom.com which offers calling cards. They have one for calling from India to the U.S. for 98 cents a minute. Is that a decent price ? Also, they have calling cards to call a cell phone from the U.S. to India for cheap prices. Has anyone used their calling cards before? Looks good but what the f-ck do I know....